Anyone still willing to adopt a zone 5 newbie? Just signed up a few days ago. This is my first post. Here's my story. I'm a single mom of 2 hyperactive, possibly autistic spectrum 4yo's. They are so hyper that they can't sleep and wake me 5-6 times per night. They are literally my miracle babies and the joy of my life, however, how I manage to function and keep a job is sometimes beyond me and totally a matter of faith. Their therapies and special therapy equipment are expensive & insurance keeps cutting coverage. I've struggled to find a daycare that will accept them and provide the individualized care that their disabilities require. I've fought the school district to get adequate early intervention services...it's a daily battle. My nearest family member is 1500 miles away so nobody I can count on for regular assistance...even to watch the kids while I go to the grocery store where I can't take the kids anymore because it triggers more hyperactivity. Gardening is one of my "keep your sanity" tools. In the summer I wake at the crack of dawn before the kids so that I can go out to quietly dig for just a few minutes. In the winter I dream through gardening books while the kids are watching their favorite video for the 1000th time. I've lived in my present house for 12 years, much of it trying to learn how to adapt my gardening from Western WA climate to Northern CO climate- experimenting to learn what plants survive here and so on. The house was an old farm house with nothing but prairie grass and 4 mature trees. I had to install a sprinkler system if I ever had a chance of buying a plant and it surviving in this dry climate. I had an old well on the property which is OK to use for irrigation. 4 yrs ago I finally had a landscape plan drawn up but when I priced landscape installation (mind you I just needed someone to do the heavy work or "set the bones" of the garden) the cost was astronomical. I'm talking $10k just for soil prep! $40k for the landscape w/o fencing or plants! So, I hiring a friend to work a few hours/week after his day job. He is trying to support a family of 7 on My next sticker shock...I went to the nursery looking for plants and shrubs....Holy Cow! I'm in the wrong business! Ever since I've been looking for cuttings, seeds, seedlings that have weeded themselves under shrubs, and anyone who needs help dividing perennials. I have a few things to trade...see my lists. I would joyfully welcome being adopted by a zone 5 gardener with lots of perennials that need thinning. And thanks emmaelice for being so thoughtful to start this thread! Blessings, Debra

I haven't forgotten about your request to see a close-up of my rustic arbor. I promise to take a picture soon...our newborn has not been sleeping at night...up every hour...and we have been sleepless wrecks! :o) In the meantime, let me tell you about the arbor. The sides look like ladders with X's in between the rungs. The top is like a railroad track but the rungs are closer...every few inches. You can see the back of the arbor in the picture below. You can also see the X design in the obelisk. I promise to pull out my camera soon! Happy gardening! Kirk P.S. I can't wait to make a chair like yours!!!! (Whenever our little one starts sleeping! LOL)

HI ALL..SO GLAD TO HAVE FOUND YOU..I NEED HELP..WE JUST MOVED INTO A NEW CONSTRUCTION COLONIAL..WE HAVE A SEMI-OPEN 1ST FLOOR WITH THE KITCHEN BEING THE CENTER OF THE HOUSE AND ENCLOSED ROOMS SHOOTING OFF FROM IT(IE: FAMILY ROOM ON RIGHT SIDE..DINING IN FRONT OF KITCHEN ..AND FORMAL LIVING ROOM TO FRONT LEFT.. HERES MY PROBLEM: THE BUILDERS PAINT IS ALL OVER KITCHEN IN PALE BUTTERCUP YELLOW/WHITE..THE DINING ROOM HE PAINTED IN A SAGE COLOR WHICH WE WILL KEEP..THE FAMILY ROOM WE WANTED TO WARM UP SINCE IT IS VERY LARGE AND RECTANGLULAR SO WE PAINTED IT AMERICAN TRADITIONS(LOWES) FAINT MAPLE WHICH CAME OUT A TAD TO DARK AS I WAS GOING FOR A CAFE AU LAIT LOOK AND IT IS MORE MILKY CHOCOLATE..BUT I LIKE IT ALRIGHT SINCE WE HAVE VERY LARGE WINDOWS WITH WHITE MOULDING.. NOW HERE IS MY QUESTION..WE WOULD LIKE TO PAINT THE KITCHEN BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A FLOW FROM ROOM TO ROOM..WITH THE FAM. ROOM MAPLE, THE DINING ROOM SAGE, WHAT COLOR SHOULD WE PAINT THE KITCHEN AND ITS ADJACENT HALLWAYS SO THERE IS FLOW?..LET ME MENTION THAT THERE IS A BATHROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL WHICH IS A DEEP AQUA/TEAL LIKE BLUE, VERY PRETTY WITH WHITE BEADBOARD..AND I WANTED TO PAINT THE LIVING ROOM IN A PALE BLUE BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF A POTTERY BARN/CAPE COD NEW ENGLAND LOOK WITH A HUGE CLAIRE MURRAY CAPE COD RUG.. I LIKE LIGHT COLORS BUT NOW WITH THE FAMILY ROOM AND THE DINING ROOM COLORS I AM AT A LOSS..I AM GOING FOR A FARMHOUSE/COTTAGE/POTTERY BARN/RESTORATION HARDWARE LOOK FOR THE HOUSE..YOU GET MY POINT.. HERE ARE PHOTOS OF THE FAMILY ROOM..KITCHEN AND DINING.. PLEASE SEE THE PHOTOS..IN ORDER IS FAMIL ROOM , THEN KITCHEN /FAMILY ROOM..THEN KITCHEN DINING ROOM: http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/APPLEJACK1/GARDEN1.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/APPLEJACK1/GARDEN2.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/APPLEJACK1/GARDEN3.jpg http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h262/APPLEJACK1/GARDEN4.jpg THANK YOU SO MUCH..:>

Wow, that does look great (maybe I should put some of the crushed stone all the way in front of the porch LOL). I'm just a little leary of putting the wicker so close to that end that gets soaked every time it rains, esp. my favorite rocker (even though it needs some work on the back legs). I know you probably just "invented" the solid blue pillows, but *where* did you find the patterned "fabric"? Please tell me it's fabric - it's perfect! I really need to hang some baskets up too - was just telling my dad last night they'd give some shade from the front - he suggested blinds! Thanks so much for PSing this for me - I found more of the beige "caned" pattern cushions on sale at Target yesterday (I ran in for rain check but they had them). But after seeing this, I *have* to use the stripe! We're going to put white vinyl up under the deck and close off the stair risers too it's been sitting in my basement all winter, now it's warm enough to put it up so I'll be calling my cousin to ask if he can do it some weekend. DH didn't get the oak double rocker out of the basement yesterday - we were trying to get the driveway fixed up from plowing (and picking stones out of the lawn that got thrown there from plowing/shoveling). Should we even bother getting it out? I still want him to get the big salt crock out - last year used it (occasionally - most people come in garage) for umbrellas. Maybe I should look for a glass top for it and use it instead of the little dark table? It's a little taller than the wood tables. Maybe we'll haul them out today and take more pics.